Parag Khanna

SPEAKING FEE RANGE ** Please note that while this speaker’s specific speaking fee falls within the range posted above (for Continental U.S. based events), fees are subject to change. For current fee information or international event fees (which are generally 50-75% more than U.S based event fees), please contact us.$30,000 to $50,000

Global strategist and international relations expert, Parag Khanna serves as a frequent consultant to government leaders and major corporations on global trends and scenarios, systemic risks and technological disruptions, and market entry strategies and master planning. The best-selling author and globally sought-out speaker has been featured in WIRED magazine’s selective “Smart List” and “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” profiled by Esquire.

Dr. Khanna’s own background is just as cosmopolitan as his line of work, giving him unique firsthand knowledge and insights to the events and movements around the world shaping the so-called “Post-American age.” Born in India and raised in the United Arab Emirates, the U.S., and Germany, he speaks six languages. After traveling to over 100 countries and receiving his PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics, Dr. Khanna has worked at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, served as a senior geopolitical advisor for the U.S. Special Operation Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and acted as an advisor to the U.S. National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2030 program.

He is a prolific writer, perhaps most known for his 2008 New York Times Magazine cover story “Waving Good-bye to Hegemony” which became one of the most highly debated essays world-wide since the end of the Cold War due to its examination of the U.S.’s role and influence in the pending global scheme.

He is currently based in Singapore where he acts as a CNN Global Contributor and Senior Research Fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalization at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. His writings are featured in major international publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. In addition to CNN, Dr. Khanna often appears on the BBC, CNBC, and Al Jazeera as a special consultant regarding world affairs.

Full Profile

Parag Khanna is a leading global strategist, world traveler, and best-selling author. He is a CNN Global Contributor and Senior Research Fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. He is also the Managing Partner of Hybrid Reality, a boutique geostrategic advisory firm, and Co-Founder & CEO of Factotum, a leading content branding agency.

Parag is co-author of Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization (2012) and author of How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance (2011) and the international bestseller The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order (2008), which was translated into more than twenty languages. In 2008, Parag was named one of Esquire’s “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century,” and featured in WIRED magazine’s “Smart List.”

Parag has been an adviser to the U.S. National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2030 program, and served in the foreign policy advisory group to the Barack Obama for President campaign. During 2007 he served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a senior geopolitical adviser to United States Special Operations Forces. From 2002-5, he was the Global Governance Fellow at the Brookings Institution; from 2000-2002 he worked at the World Economic Forum in Geneva; and from 1999-2000, he was a Research Associate at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

A widely cited global intellectual, Dr. Khanna appears frequently in media around the world such as BBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera and other international broadcasters. He is a contributing editor to WorldPost and serves on the editorial board of Global Policy. His 2008 cover story for the New York Times Magazine titled “Waving Goodbye to Hegemony,” is one of the most globally debated and influential essays since the end of the Cold War. His articles have appeared in major international publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, TIME, Forbes, The Atlantic, Quartz, Foreign Policy, Harper’s, BusinessWeek, The Guardian, The National Interest, McKinsey Quarterly, The American Interest, Esquire, Slate.com, and Die Zeit. In 2010 he became the first video-blogger for ForeignPolicy.com and from 2010-12 co-authored the Hybrid Reality blog on BigThink. From 2008-9, Parag was the host of “InnerView” on MTV. He spoke on “Invisible Maps” at TED Global 2009 and was a guest host of TED Global 2012.

Parag lectures frequently at international conferences and gives executive briefings to government leaders and major corporations on global trends and scenarios, systemic risks and technological disruptions, and market entry strategies and master planning. He serves on the advisory board of Graticule Asset Management Asia and previously on the Innovation Advisory Board of DBS.

Dr. Khanna holds a PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics, and Bachelors and Masters degrees from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He has been a Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation, Senior Fellow of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Visiting Fellow at LSE IDEAS, Senior Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, Distinguished Visitor at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, Distinguished Visitor at the American Academy in Berlin, Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly, Visiting Fellow at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, Non-Resident Associate of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, and a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. He has received grants from the United Nations Foundation, Smith Richardson Foundation, and Ford Foundation.

Born in India, Parag grew up in the United Arab Emirates, New York, and Germany. He is an accomplished adventurer who has traveled to more than 100 countries on all continents. Some of his lengthy journeys include driving from the Baltic Sea through the Balkans and across Turkey and the Caucasus to the Caspian Sea, across the rugged terrain of Tibet and Xinjiang provinces in western China, and eight thousand miles from London to Ulaanbaatar in the Mongolia Charity Rally. He has climbed numerous 20,000-foot plus peaks, and trekked in the Alps, Himalayas, and Tien Shan mountain ranges. Parag is also a competitive tennis player.

Parag has been honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and currently serves on the WEF’s Global Agenda Council on Geo-economics and advisory board of its Future of Urban Development Initiative. He also serves on the advisory board of Independent Diplomat and board of trustees of the New Cities Foundation. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. In 2002 he was awarded the OECD Future Leaders Prize. He speaks German, Hindi, French, Spanish and basic Arabic.

Parag Khanna Speaker Videos

Keynote Speech

Parag Khanna paints a new economic structure in which “city-states” are forming relationships that strengthen Asian cities and generate a more resilient world economy. He draws on his experience living in Singapore and the connections it has formed with high-class Middle-eastern cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, describing the chain of economic movement between them as “the new maritime Silk Road.”

He contrasts today with the late 1990s Asian financial crisis, responding to skepticism from outsiders who have warned not to trust high growth and emerging Asian markets. “Southeast Asia now sees more foreign direct investment annually than China does,” he reports, noting that various financial parties have built up trade surpluses and reserves during the past years, reducing volatility in Asian markets. “So across this access there is a great deal of health,” he observes. “And what that symbolizes is the new kinds of inter regional trade and investment connectivity that characterizes a resilient world economy.”

Keynote Speech

TED Talk

Speeches / Speaking Engagements

A preferred consultant and advisor to government officials and Fortune 100 companies around the world, Parag Khanna identifies unexpected trends, overstated threats, and hidden opportunities for business and government audiences based on his extensive first-hand knowledge of regions and the key forces and players that are influencing them.

A trusted strategist by the U.S. government and World Economic Forum, he offers valuable insights and advice on how to plan ahead and build resiliency in the most interconnected, interdependent, and international economic paradigm history has ever seen.

His substantial and thought-provoking presentations will leave audiences with actionable advice tailored to their region and sector along with an understanding of why Dr. Khanna has been called “the leading next generation voice on the future of global affairs.”

Managing Risks in a Complex World
The global financial crisis, Fukushima nuclear disaster, and Arab Spring are all recent "black swan" events that have rocked markets, transformed energy policy, and destabilized swaths of the planet. They came without warning but in retrospect were predictable. Today’s intensely complex and uncertain world is generating more such disruptions, potentially from the slowing Chinese economy, stalling financial and regulatory reforms, Russian geopolitical aggression, or social unrest caused by heightened income inequality. How can companies prepare for the worst and insulate themselves from the spillover effects of rippling crisis emerging from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and other hotspots, while capitalizing on stable and undervalued markets? Drawing on insights from his widely acclaimed book How to Run the World and his years of experience building scenarios and conducting strategic foresight workshops for Fortune 100 companies and innovative governments such as Dubai and Singapore, Dr. Khanna excels at the connecting the dots for corporate leaders, tailoring his presentations to diverse industries, regions and risk factors, and providing actionable roadmaps to achieve resilience.

The Future of Globalization: Strategic Trends, Economic Competition & Technological Innovation
Globalization has withstood the financial crisis and continues to expand and integrate all markets and societies of the world. For the first time in human history, globalization is actually global, ushering in a new era of total connectivity and strategic competition. Drawing on his international bestseller The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order, Dr. Khanna provides a tour de force of the foundations of the future world order including: The new geopolitical marketplace emerging with the expanding ambitions of China, India, Brazil and Russia and the opening of new markets such as Myanmar and Iran; the competitive geo-economic environment in which western economies struggle to achieve consistent growth while emerging markets struggle with productivity and inequality; and the rise of “geo-technology” whereby leading sectors such as biotechnology, nano-technology, alternative energy and robotics will re-shape the global balance of innovation.

Winning the Global War for Talent
A new class of global citizen is emerging led by over 250 million expatriates worldwide, more than ever in history. After decades of capitalizing on brain drain, fast-growing markets are reversing the flow of skilled managers in new directions, from North to South and West to East. Attracting the best and brightest to your country, city or company requires understanding the dynamics of global labor mobility and crafting an economic master plan to gain an edge in the war for talent. With his extensive experience advising the most innovative governments and globally distributed multinationals, Dr. Khanna provides insights and case studies that help you strategize your move up the value chain and train strong regional management.

Billions of People, Trillions of Dollars: How Asia Will Shape the World in the Coming Decade
With over $20 trillion in annual GDP, Asia has rapidly become an economic zone on par with North America and the European Union—but encompassing more than half the world’s population and sovereign wealth as well. Asia now needs to be understood beyond China and Japan, especially as India and the Southeast Asian ASEAN nations increasingly flex their economic muscles. Outward Asian investment is on pace to reach $200 billion per year by 2020, and has already reshaped Middle Eastern energy markets, African infrastructure, North American real estate, and South American commodities. From his unique perch in Singapore and constant travel to the most dynamic investment destinations, Dr. Khanna explains where Asian capital is flowing and how it is transforming strategic relationships and building markets for savvy global investors.

Mega-Trends: Technology, Cities & Map of the Future
Ubiquitous technology and urbanization are the two irrefutable mega-trends of the 21st century. Together they are remapping the world towards a hyper-connected matrix of densely populated city clusters and ultra-modern special economic zones (SEZs) that represent the new foundations of a global network economy and society. Elaborating on bold forecasts from his pioneering book Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization, Dr. Khanna provides unmatched clarity into the future and strategizes with clients to chart their own map to success.

How to be Global: From Multinational to Metanational
Globalization is entering a new phase in which emerging and frontier markets across all geographies are becoming fully integrated into the world economy. To succeed in this global marketplace, multinational companies must learn to become metanational: truly stateless. This requires thinking long-term about new growth centers, recruiting and training an international workforce comfortable across functions and locations, developing more locally tailored products and services, and restructuring management into partnership models that devolve authority. Leveraging his extensive experience advising some of the world’s foremost global companies, Dr. Khanna shares insights and strategies tailored to your sector and priorities on how to become a truly global company.

Asia's Next Decade: China & Beyond
Asia has defied historical cycles and expectations with its decades long growth boom. Even as China’s economy continues to steam ahead, the Asian growth mantle is now shared with the Southeast Asian ASEAN countries and India, which are also attracting enormous foreign investment as regional cooperation knits the region’s economies closer together. With connectivity rising, capital markets deepening, trade expanding, and economies diversifying, Western corporations need robust strategies for Asia beyond China. Having relocated to Singapore and providing extensive guidance to the region’s governments and companies, Parag Khanna gives audiences an insider’s view of what the coming decade holds in terms of opportunities and risks in the world’s most populous region.

* Please note that while this speaker’s specific speaking fee falls within the range posted above (for Continental U.S. based events), fees are subject to change. For current fee information or international event fees (which are generally 50-75% more than U.S based event fees), please contact us.

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Managing Risks in a Complex World
The global financial crisis, Fukushima nuclear disaster, and Arab Spring are all recent "black swan" events that have rocked markets, transformed energy policy, and destabilized swaths of the planet. They came without warning but in retrospect were predictable. Today’s intensely complex and uncertain world is generating more such disruptions, potentially from the slowing Chinese economy, stalling financial and regulatory reforms, Russian geopolitical aggression, or social unrest caused by heightened income inequality. How can companies prepare for the worst and insulate themselves from the spillover effects of rippling crisis emerging from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and other hotspots, while capitalizing on stable and undervalued markets? Drawing on insights from his widely acclaimed book How to Run the World and his years of experience building scenarios and conducting strategic foresight workshops for Fortune 100 companies and innovative governments such as Dubai and Singapore, Dr. Khanna excels at the connecting the dots for corporate leaders, tailoring his presentations to diverse industries, regions and risk factors, and providing actionable roadmaps to achieve resilience.

The Future of Globalization: Strategic Trends, Economic Competition & Technological Innovation
Globalization has withstood the financial crisis and continues to expand and integrate all markets and societies of the world. For the first time in human history, globalization is actually global, ushering in a new era of total connectivity and strategic competition. Drawing on his international bestseller The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order, Dr. Khanna provides a tour de force of the foundations of the future world order including: The new geopolitical marketplace emerging with the expanding ambitions of China, India, Brazil and Russia and the opening of new markets such as Myanmar and Iran; the competitive geo-economic environment in which western economies struggle to achieve consistent growth while emerging markets struggle with productivity and inequality; and the rise of “geo-technology” whereby leading sectors such as biotechnology, nano-technology, alternative energy and robotics will re-shape the global balance of innovation.

Winning the Global War for Talent
A new class of global citizen is emerging led by over 250 million expatriates worldwide, more than ever in history. After decades of capitalizing on brain drain, fast-growing markets are reversing the flow of skilled managers in new directions, from North to South and West to East. Attracting the best and brightest to your country, city or company requires understanding the dynamics of global labor mobility and crafting an economic master plan to gain an edge in the war for talent. With his extensive experience advising the most innovative governments and globally distributed multinationals, Dr. Khanna provides insights and case studies that help you strategize your move up the value chain and train strong regional management.

Billions of People, Trillions of Dollars: How Asia Will Shape the World in the Coming Decade
With over $20 trillion in annual GDP, Asia has rapidly become an economic zone on par with North America and the European Union—but encompassing more than half the world’s population and sovereign wealth as well. Asia now needs to be understood beyond China and Japan, especially as India and the Southeast Asian ASEAN nations increasingly flex their economic muscles. Outward Asian investment is on pace to reach $200 billion per year by 2020, and has already reshaped Middle Eastern energy markets, African infrastructure, North American real estate, and South American commodities. From his unique perch in Singapore and constant travel to the most dynamic investment destinations, Dr. Khanna explains where Asian capital is flowing and how it is transforming strategic relationships and building markets for savvy global investors.

Mega-Trends: Technology, Cities & Map of the Future
Ubiquitous technology and urbanization are the two irrefutable mega-trends of the 21st century. Together they are remapping the world towards a hyper-connected matrix of densely populated city clusters and ultra-modern special economic zones (SEZs) that represent the new foundations of a global network economy and society. Elaborating on bold forecasts from his pioneering book Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization, Dr. Khanna provides unmatched clarity into the future and strategizes with clients to chart their own map to success.

How to be Global: From Multinational to Metanational
Globalization is entering a new phase in which emerging and frontier markets across all geographies are becoming fully integrated into the world economy. To succeed in this global marketplace, multinational companies must learn to become metanational: truly stateless. This requires thinking long-term about new growth centers, recruiting and training an international workforce comfortable across functions and locations, developing more locally tailored products and services, and restructuring management into partnership models that devolve authority. Leveraging his extensive experience advising some of the world’s foremost global companies, Dr. Khanna shares insights and strategies tailored to your sector and priorities on how to become a truly global company.

Asia's Next Decade: China & Beyond
Asia has defied historical cycles and expectations with its decades long growth boom. Even as China’s economy continues to steam ahead, the Asian growth mantle is now shared with the Southeast Asian ASEAN countries and India, which are also attracting enormous foreign investment as regional cooperation knits the region’s economies closer together. With connectivity rising, capital markets deepening, trade expanding, and economies diversifying, Western corporations need robust strategies for Asia beyond China. Having relocated to Singapore and providing extensive guidance to the region’s governments and companies, Parag Khanna gives audiences an insider’s view of what the coming decade holds in terms of opportunities and risks in the world’s most populous region.

Keynote Speech

Parag Khanna paints a new economic structure in which “city-states” are forming relationships that strengthen Asian cities and generate a more resilient world economy. He draws on his experience living in Singapore and the connections it has formed with high-class Middle-eastern cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, describing the chain of economic movement between them as “the new maritime Silk Road.”

He contrasts today with the late 1990s Asian financial crisis, responding to skepticism from outsiders who have warned not to trust high growth and emerging Asian markets. “Southeast Asia now sees more foreign direct investment annually than China does,” he reports, noting that various financial parties have built up trade surpluses and reserves during the past years, reducing volatility in Asian markets. “So across this access there is a great deal of health,” he observes. “And what that symbolizes is the new kinds of inter regional trade and investment connectivity that characterizes a resilient world economy.”